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ROUMANIA-CROATIA 8:6 (2:2, 2:0, 3:2, 1:2)
Roumania - scorers:  Radu 3, Busila 1, Dunca 1, Andrei-Dina 1, Kadar 2,

Croatia - scorers:  Buslje 2, Buljubasic 1, Boskovic 3

And this is what Denes Kemeny says, who saw two quarters from the game: "A sleepy and perhaps a too confident Croatian team from which Roumanian team get confidence. As it stands for waterpolo: anything can happen, if someone do not play well. Based on the Roumanian players, Croatia can beat them, but they thought it'll automatically work. Well, nothing works automatically in waterpolo. Our Friday game won't be any easier or tougher. If our team do not approach this game as they should, than we'll have a hard game to play, because Roumanian team has too many good players to treat them loosy."

So despite the fact that this Croatia is not the World Champ Croatia team, and although Rudic emphasized that they have strong team spirit (where????), they have problems with the "young team" explanation. Whether it's the full World Champ team or their "B" team, it's all the same... they haven't got enough goal-strong players, and if you can eliminate their centers, they can be beaten.

SPAIN-RUSSIA 10:11 (3:2, 3:7, 2:2, 2:0)
Spain - scorers: M. Molina 1, Minguell 2, Piralkov 3, F.Perrone 2, Mallarach 2.

Russia - scorers: Jurcik 4, Lisunov 1, Zakirov 1, Garbuzov 3, Jesztigenejev 2

If there's anyone who wasn't obvious so far, that Spain do not want to travel to Berlin for SF8... now you could have it. That's not the same Spain, still playes poor quality. Okay, I understand that they're tired... all waterpolo players tired (thanks Melbourne, for spring vs. summer event)... and sure, everybody prepares for Beijing (either to make it, or to get medals they want)... but I still think World League is prestige... therefore a strong team cannnot afford the luxury to play in an "I-don't-care" mood... but to play it right.

I'm happy for Roumania and Russia... because they've learned an important lesson... a stronger team can be beaten... when they don't play well... and a "weaker" team can make advantage from it.

TODAY GAMES: 18:30 ROU-HUN / 20:00 RUS-CRO